Development and evaluation of lipid microbubbles targeted to alpha(v)beta(3)-integrin via biotin–avidin bridge

Abstract

This work was to report preparation and quality control of targeted microbubbles (MB_t) via biotin–avidin bridge, specifically verification of the “biotin–avidin–biotin” sandwich structure. (1) Lipid microbubbles filled with sulphur hexafluoride were produced by sonication and compared with commercially available microbubbles. (2) MB_t were produced via biotin–avidin bridge. Specifically, the “biotin–avidin–biotin” sandwich structure on the surface of MB_t was verified in vitro using fluorescence. (3) Adhesion of alpha(v)beta(3)-integrin targeted MB_t (MB_αvβ3) to human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) was tested using the parallel plate flow chamber (PPFC). “Biotin–avidin” is a reliable method to attach molecular probe onto the surface of microbubbles.

• angiogenesis
• contrast-enhanced ultrasound
• molecular imaging
• phospholipids
• targeted microbubbles
• tumour targeting